Testing Methodology
Last updated: 2026-02-15 — Edited by Max
How we select and test products
We test consumer-grade tax software by filing real (or closely representative) returns on each product and comparing the outcome. Our primary test profile is:
- The freelancer return: 32-year-old designer. Schedule C with $42,300 gross income. Home office deduction (simplified, 200 sq ft = $1,000). Two 1099-NEC forms. One state (California). No investment income, no rental property.
- The W-2 return: Single W-2, standard deduction, one state.
- The landlord return: W-2 + Schedule E with one rental property and straight-line depreciation over 27.5 years.
We run the same inputs on each product and record: the computed refund, the total all-in cost, and the user experience observations. A product passes if the refund matches our reference calculation. It fails if it produces a materially different number without a clear and valid reason.
Scoring rubric (1-10)
| Dimension | Weight | What we assess |
|---|---|---|
| Accuracy | 40% | Does the refund match the reference computation? |
| Price fairness | 25% | All-in cost relative to form complexity supported |
| UX quality | 20% | Wizard clarity, import quality, error handling |
| Transparency | 15% | Does the free tier actually work as described? |
The commission bias problem
Tax preparation software affiliate commissions range from $0 (Cash App Taxes — no program) to $7-$25 per paid signup (TurboTax). FreeTaxUSA pays $2-$5. This inverted commission structure means that affiliate-driven ranking lists systematically overrank expensive products and underrank cheap ones.
Our solution: disclose the commission earned on every affiliate CTA, adjacent to the link — not in the footer. Our full commission table is at /research/commission-disclosure/.
Not tax advice
This site covers software features and pricing. Per IRS Circular 230 §10.35-10.37, only enrolled agents, CPAs, attorneys, and registered tax-return preparers may give tax advice. Nothing on this site constitutes tax advice. All pricing and form availability should be verified with vendors before filing.
Primary sources we check against
- FTC v. Intuit Inc., Docket No. 9408 (Jan 2024)
- IRS Free File Alliance criteria, IR-2024-04
- T.D. 10000 (1099-DA final regulations, June 2024)
- Rev. Proc. 2019-38 (QBI rental safe harbor)
- IRS Schedule C Instructions, Publication 334
- IRS Direct File cancellation — Federal News Network, November 2025